13 November 2026 · Tires
A drive tire on a steer axle wears out fast and steers badly. A steer tire on a drive axle spins under load and cuts casing life. The differences are in the tread pattern, the compound and the casing, and they show up in the first few thousand kilometres.
| Position | Pattern shape | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Steer | Continuous ribs, shallow shoulder slots | Straight-line stability, even wear, low noise |
| Drive | Lug or block pattern, deeper tread | Traction on wet, loose or graded surfaces |
| Trailer | Rib or shallow lug, cut-resistant | Resistance to scrubbing and kerb damage |
| All-position | Mixed rib-lug | Compromise where a fleet keeps one stock size |
Rib patterns keep the contact patch stable and resist irregular wear. In this catalogue the steer and trailer group includes wide-base single tires such as ATR201 385/65R22.5 for trailer axles and wide-single steer applications, and ATR202 in 295/80R22.5 and 11R22.5.
Drive patterns need open blocks for traction and a deeper tread for mileage. The trade-off is noise and heat. For long haul, the block depth is moderate; for construction and on/off-road work it goes deeper and the casing gets stronger.
Examples from the catalogue: ADC702 (11R22.5 / 11R24.5, long haul drive), ADC729 (12.00R20, mixed service drive), AGM888L (11.00R20, mining all-position).
Trailer tires fight scrubbing on tight turns and kerb strikes in yards. A cut-resistant rib or shallow lug lasts longer than a drive pattern used in the same place. Wide-base single tires (385/65R22.5) reduce wheel count and weight, but require the correct rim and dual spacing checks.
All-position patterns simplify stock: one tire for steer, drive and trailer. They are a reasonable choice for small fleets and mixed duty. On long-haul drive axles they usually deliver less traction and less mileage than a dedicated drive pattern.
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